Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-24
WEDNESDAY,. AUGUST "a. 1881
That Rennhl,can Convention.

torday General MALONE signs ms own
name, and IN that address claims the
convention which passed the Constitu-
ton of Virginia Of 1867 as n Republi-
can convention. He says:
"The school system was incorpO-
porsted into the Virginia Constitution
by Republican convention"
And wasn't that a fine specimen OF
Republican convention ? Numerous
negroes were in IT, White carpet
bapeers were in it. Traitors to Vir-
D., ginia STYLED scalawags were in it. And
that motley crew of negroes and rene
gados MALONE boasts OF rs ga Rcpub-
hcnn convention"
But were they really renegades .?
We have taken the trouble to hunt up
the iest-oaths which that Republican
convention" provided should be taken
by our State officers and we submit
those oaths as convincing proofs that
the convention did not represent any
respectable party in Virginia. We
give also the paragraph DISTINGUISHING
so many thousands of Nirginans that
we will not attempt to state their num-
Der. Section G Of Article III. of that
Republican conventions constitution
provided that "GH persons before en-
teIiug upon the discharge of any func-
ton as officers of this State should take
and subscribe the oath or affirmation .
Gas it now appears in the Constitution.
But section provides as follows:
"In addition to the foregoing oath
of Office. tie Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, members of the General As
s,nbiy. Secretary Of state. Auditor o;
Pubic Accounts, State Treasurer, At
toIncv.Gencral, and all persons elected
10 any convention to frame Constitu-
ton for this State. or to amend or re-
wise .his Constitution in any manner,
and .Nlayor and Council of any city or
town. shall. before they enter on the
duties of their respective offices, take
and subscribe the following oath or al
fImation, provided the disabilities
therein contained may he indjriduPlW
removed by n NrccGjthS vote OF the
General Assembly"
The Constitution provided also that
the same oath I'VE will quote it pre-
sently should be taken Icy "oH city
ana county oCiccrS," and by "aH other
State officers not included in the above
proyisions." Was ever such diabolical
prescription or disiranchisement con
templated by any other body Of men?
Now. we quote the oath which all city
and county and State officers We're to
be required to take. 1t is as follows:
81. do solemnly swear tor
offiIr) that have never voluntarily
home AIMS against the United States
since have been citizen thereof ;
that 1 have voluntarily given no aid,
cou,tcpance, counsel, or encourage
mcut TO persons engaged IN armed hos
tjhiv thereto; that have never sought
nor accepted, nor attempted to exer-
else the functions of any Office what
ever under any authority or pretended
authority iii hostility to the United
States that have not yielded yolun-
tary support to any pretended govern
ment. authority, power, or constitution
within the United States hostile o.
inimical thereto, &c, &c.
Who in Virginia, excepting negroes
and scalawags and carpet bagSers, couiC
have taken such an oath But that i
not all. The third article, section first
took away the right to vote from all th'
following classes of persons:
"Eyery person who has been Sen
ator or Representative in Congress, o.
eleetor OF President or Vice Presl
dent. or who held any office, civil o
military, under the United States, o
under any State, who, having previous
ly taken an oath as a member oil Con
cress. or as an officer of the Unite
States. or as a member OF any stat
legislature, or as an executive or Judi
cial officer of any state, shall have en-
Gagged in instruction or rebellion
against the same, or given aid or com
fort 10 the enemies thereof. I'M
clarse shall include the following Of
ficers Governor, Lieutensnt-Gov
nor. Secretary Of State, Auditor @
prblic Accounts, Second Auditor, Reg
ister of the Land Office, State Tres
surtr. Attorney General, Sheriifs, Sci
oeant of a CITY or town, COMMISSIONS
0f the Revenue, County Suryeyo
Ccnstables. Overseers of the Poor. Con
,n;ssioncrs Of the Board OF Publ
Works. Judges OF the Supreme Cour
Jndees of tho Circuit Courts, Judge
fhe Court OF Hastings, Justices OF u
Comfy Courts, Mayor, Recorder, 4
dermen, Councilmon of city or tow
Co,opers, Escheators, Inspectors of L
bacco, Flour, &c, Clerks Of the >
preme, District, Circuit, and Coun
Courts, and OF the Count OF Husting
and Attorneys for the Commonwealth
Provided that the Legislature may |
a vote Of three fifths OF both hous
Remove lie disabilities incurred i'll ia
clause from any person included ther
in by a separate vote in each case.
ii the sections quoted from abo'
had become portions Of our State Co
stitution, Virginia would to-day ha
been under the rule Of carpet Dagger
hcalawsgs, and negroes, such as COZ
posed tie convention that framed tho
- micbediy Objectionable sections.
Such was the convention which VI
HoiE claims 40 Republican conye
fion, and TO which he says belongs {
credit Of our public.school system
We leave il TO Virginians TO prescri
General MAnoSE's punishment.
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